Statement of Strategy 2018-2021 2018 - Department of Enterprise ...
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Statement of Strategy 2018-2021 2018 April 2018 dbei.gov.ie
Statement of Strategy 2018-2021
Table of Contents
Foreword 3
Vision, Mission, Values 4
Our Goals 5
Introduction & Context 6
Goal 1: Create and sustaining high quality enterprise & employment across all
regions 12
Goal 2: Lead a whole of Government approach to developing the most competitive
environment for investment, productivity and sustainable jobs 13
Goal 3: Position Ireland as a Global Innovation Leader 14
Goal 4: Deliver positive workplace relations supports, well-functioning dispute
resolution mechanisms, robust enforcement of employment rights and
a safe working environment 15
Goal 5: Ensuring that business regulation facilitates business investment and
development, competition in the marketplace, high standards of consumer
protection and corporate governance and provides Ireland with a competitive
advantage in the global market. 16
Goal 6: Working ambitiously with our EU and International Partners across a wide
range of interests, including Brexit 17
Goal 7: Investing in our staff and optimising our resources 18
Appendix 1: DBEI Programme for Government Commitments 19
Appendix 2: Working collaboratively with other Departments 20
Appendix 3: Some Key DBEI Stakeholder Forums 22
Appendix 4: Targets set out in Enterprise 2025 and Innovation 2020 25
Appendix 5: Our Agencies and Offices 29
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Foreword
I welcome the publication of this Statement of Strategy, which has been developed, taking account of
Brexit and other significant current global challenges and opportunities. Over the period covered by the
Statement of Strategy, my Department will continue to work to stimulate the productive capacity of our
economy, and to create and develop an environment which supports job creation and jobs maintenance.
We will continue to focus on ensuring that progress and growth is accelerated throughout all regions of
the country. The Government has set a target of creating 200,000 jobs by 2020, and we want 135,000
of these to be created outside Dublin. Enterprise 2025 Renewed, which I recently launched, will provide
overall direction for the development of enterprise and job creation in the coming years. Developing a
stronger research and innovation system is also crucial to ensure that our economy remains resilient
and internationally competitive and driving the implementation of Innovation 2020 is also a high priority
for us.
I am confident that the staff of my Department, working closely with their colleagues in the Offices and
Agencies, have the commitment necessary to ensure that the mission and ambitious goals set out in
the Strategy are successfully delivered.
Heather Humphreys, T.D.
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation
The Department’s Statement of Strategy 2018-2021 sets out seven high level goals aimed at delivering
the commitments assigned to us in the Programme for Partnership Government 2016. This will be done
by the Department itself and through its Offices and Agencies. We have identified clear and measurable
targets across all areas and we will work collaboratively with colleagues across Government, business,
other stakeholders and at EU and international level to achieve these targets.
Our committed and talented team of staff are our key asset and will be crucial to the successful delivery
of our goals in the coming years. We are fully engaged with the Civil Service Renewal Plan, and are
focused on delivering high quality, responsive and relevant services for the benefit of all our
stakeholders.
The vision, mission and goals outlined in this Strategy will guide the annual business planning process,
across our divisions and business units. Progress on delivery will be monitored and reviewed on an
ongoing basis.
Dr Orlaigh Quinn, Secretary General
Department for Business, Enterprise and Innovation
3|PageStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
Our Vision
We will make Ireland the best place to succeed in business, delivering
sustainable full employment and higher standards of living across all
regions of the country.
Our Mission
We will lead on the creation and maintenance of high quality and
sustainable full employment across all regions of the country by
championing enterprise and innovation across government, by supporting
a competitive business base to incentivise work, enterprise, trade,
innovation and investment and by promoting fair and competitive markets
as well as best business practice through the regulatory and enforcement
work of the Department, its Offices and its agencies.
Our Values
As a Department, we foster a culture of accountability, efficiency and value
for money, which is rooted in a public service ethos of independence,
integrity, impartiality, openness, dignity and respect.
As Civil Servants, we espouse the highest standards of professionalism,
honesty, objectivity and quality, which are central to fulfilling our roles in
supporting the democratic process and serving the people.
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Our Goals
Lead on creating and sustaining high quality enterprise
Goal and employment across all regions of the country by
One supporting a strong indigenous enterprise base, the
continued attraction of foreign direct investment and a
strong entrepreneurial culture.
Goal Lead a whole-of-Government approach to developing the most
competitive environment for investment, productivity and
Two sustainable jobs.
Lead a whole-of-Government approach to position Ireland
Goal as a Global Innovation Leader, driving an internationally
Three competitive research and development system, creating an
innovative enterprise base and building a better society.
Goal Deliver positive workplace relations, well-functioning dispute
resolution mechanisms, robust enforcement of employment
Four rights and a safe working environment.
Ensure that our business regulation facilitates business
Goal investment and development, competition in the market
place, high standards of consumer protection and
Five corporate governance and provides Ireland with a
competitive advantage in the global market.
Work ambitiously across Government with our EU and
Goal international partners to achieve progress in EU and
Six international fora, across a wide range of interests, including
Brexit.
Invest in and support our staff to further enhance
Goal individual and collective capacity, ensure high
Seven standards of corporate governance and optimise all our
resources to deliver our Strategy, Mission and Goals.
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Introduction & Context
About Us
The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) plays a key role in implementing the
Government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an
environment which supports job creation and maintenance. The Department also has a remit to
promote fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers. Through its
Agencies and Offices, the Department’s remit covers a wide range of activity including;
▪ Facilitating the start-up and growth of indigenous enterprises,
▪ Attracting foreign direct investment,
▪ Growing and deepening export opportunities,
▪ Improving competitiveness and productivity,
▪ Promoting innovation and growth through investment in research and development,
▪ Promoting fair competition for businesses and consumers,
▪ Ensuring fit for purpose, modern company law,
▪ Safeguarding workers’ rights including their entitlement to occupational safety and health,
▪ Supporting and facilitating a positive industrial relations environment,
▪ Making evidence based policy, informed by research, analysis and robust evaluation,
▪ Identifying the future skills needs of enterprise,
▪ Providing appropriate and independent regulatory and enforcement capability, and
▪ Representing Ireland’s interests in relevant EU fora, including the Competitiveness Council
(incorporating Internal Market, Industry and Research), and the General Affairs Council (meeting in
its Trade formation) and relevant WTO, ILO, OECD and World Intellectual Property Organisation
(WIPO) fora.
Ongoing Progress but Challenges Remain……
The Department, together with its Agencies and Offices, and working closely with stakeholders and
across Government, has played a significant role in addressing the major challenges that have faced
us as a country over recent years. This collaborative effort has contributed to a turnaround in the Irish
economy, increasing the number of people at work and strengthening Ireland’s enterprise economy
and performance. Over this period, we have delivered significant success, as indicated by;
▪ Since the first Action Plan for Jobs was launched in Q1 2012, 313,000 more people are at work
bringing total employment in the State to 2,192,000 in Q3 2017. The number of unemployed
people fell by 184,400 (-53%).
▪ In the year to Q3 2017, total employment increased by 2.2%. Over the same period, part-time
employment declined by 13.1% while the number working full-time increased by 6.9%.
▪ The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January 2018 was 6.1%, down from 7.4% in
January 2017. Long term unemployment accounted for 40.1% (65,500) of the total people in
unemployment in Q3 2017 compared with 49.5% a year earlier.
▪ Over the year to Q2 2017 employment grew faster in the regions (3.0%) outside Dublin than in
Dublin (1.4%) with approximately 4 out of 5 jobs created in the regions.
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▪ In the year to Q3 2017, GDP and GNP increased respectively by 10.4% and 11.0% in real terms.
▪ Productivity (GDP per hour worked) grew by 2.4% in 2016 (latest available).
▪ Record indigenous exports of €19.7bn in 2016 by clients of the enterprise agencies (latest available).
▪ During 2017, IDA Ireland secured 237 new investments.
Notwithstanding these achievements, significant challenges present themselves, particularly in the
context of international developments in recent times.
Whilst continuing to face new and emerging challenges, our focus is on protecting and building on the
progress achieved to date and broadening its reach across all regions of the country, where the pace
of progress needs to be accelerated through targeted supports for enterprise and job creation.
The global economic environment is becoming increasingly complex. Economic uncertainty remains
high and there is a heightened emphasis on ensuring that Ireland’s interests are strongly represented
and robustly defended, and reflected in international decisions which support our jobs,
competitiveness and productivity agenda. International developments present us with many
challenges and opportunities in relation to competition for mobile investment and the development
and growth of indigenous business.
The decision of the UK to leave the EU and the related uncertainty present immediate and significant
challenges for Irish business and for all aspects of the Department’s remit and in our engagement at
the EU and the WTO. The UK’s exit from the EU will have short, medium and long term implications
across a range of policy areas which directly impact on job creation and retention, and it represents a
particular risk to some enterprise sectors. In many cases, these sectors are particularly labour
intensive, have lower profit margins, and have a strong regional footprint. This will require varied
responses from DBEI at a policy and an operational level.
Our Response
Our strategy is to minimise risks and maximise opportunities by ensuring the growth and resilience of
Irish enterprise post-Brexit working across four pillars as follows:
▪ Helping Firms to Compete: We are working across Government to create the best environment
for business to grow, export and create jobs. Key elements include ensuring that firms have
access to finance, that our tax regime and infrastructure investment promote national
competitiveness, and that the Agencies are appropriately resourced to help business focus on
competitiveness at firm level.
▪ Enabling Firms to Innovate: As part of our strategy to become a Global Innovation Leader, we
are targeting R&D funding through our Agencies to support innovation in new products and
processes which firms need to compete and grow and to invest in the next generation of
innovators.
▪ Supporting Firms to Trade: We are supporting firms to start exporting, to grow their exports in
existing markets and to diversify into new markets and regions. We will continue to attract
overseas investment while working with EU partners to expand the portfolio of Free Trade
Agreements.
▪ Negotiating for the Best Possible Outcome: We are working across government to ensure we
get the best outcome possible for business from Brexit negotiations. DBEI is leading on trade
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policy and on a range of Brexit research projects which will provide an extensive evidence base
and valuable analysis to inform and guide Ireland’s position within the EU-27.
Collaboration with other Government Departments and Agencies, to ensure a whole of Government
response to mitigate risks and maximise opportunities from Brexit and other international
developments, together with constructive engagement at relevant EU and international fora by
Departmental officials, will be central to our response. We will work collaboratively to ensure the most
advantageous outcome for Ireland and for the EU to minimise the impact on enterprise, employment
and growth. We will also ensure that supports are in place to help firms to adapt to the challenges and
opportunities Brexit presents. Our approach will be underpinned by establishing the necessary
evidence base through research and analysis and by using extensive stakeholder engagement at
home and abroad to inform and validate our response to Brexit.
Globally, the area of corporate taxation has generated much discussion and activity in recent times,
and this is likely to continue. Proposals for reform of corporate taxation are emanating from the
European Commission in the form of relaunched proposals for a Common Consolidated Corporate
Tax Base (CCCTB), from the OECD in the form of their BEPS Actions and from the USA, where
widespread reform of the overall system of taxation has been enacted. Much of the discussion
remains at an early stage. We will continue to work collaboratively with colleagues across
Government to monitor and influence the debate and to assess the impact of proposals to our current
offerings. A key feature of the Irish business model is a business taxation regime that supports
entrepreneurship and job creation. The Government has made it clear that our 12.5 per cent rate of
corporation tax will not be changed.
There are significant challenges and opportunities presented for many businesses from the evolution
of the digital market, which has and will continue to change how business is done internationally. We
must build on our strengths in particular sectors, for example, the ICT sector, to take advantage of
opportunities.
We will continue to build on the strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurship to strengthen our
enterprise capacity and ensure the right mix between foreign and domestic enterprise.
We will support businesses to achieve greater diversification of export markets, reducing dependence
on individual countries. New and emerging markets present significant opportunities for trade and
investment growth and international trade agreements can be leveraged to create opportunities. We
will also intensify our focus on building and sustaining existing markets and use to our advantage our
location close to large, affluent markets, which offers opportunities to Irish companies to grow sales
and exports.
Investment in RD&I remain below comparator countries and the proportion of enterprises engaging in
research and innovation is too low. We want to see more Irish enterprises investing in research and
development, and more collaboration between foreign and Irish owned enterprises and between
enterprises, universities and institutes of technology.
Ireland’s unemployment rate, and size of the inactive population, remains a challenge, particularly
youth unemployment and unemployment at regional levels and we must work collaboratively to
achieve the targets to reduce unemployment to the levels set out in the Programme for Partnership
Government.
Ireland has a world class talent pool that is responsive to the changing and diverse needs of the
economy and this is a key strategic strength. However, there are skills shortages for business in
8|PageStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
certain areas and we will continue to seek to address these with our colleagues in the Department of
Education and Skills and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and through a
modern work permits regime. Ireland also has a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem which supports
and attracts innovative start-ups that can scale up in international markets.
We will maintain our focus on competitiveness and we must respond collectively to indications of
upward cost and competitive pressures. We must ensure that productivity disparities are narrowed
across the economy.
We will also continue to promote our strength as a location for ease of doing business and one where
there are high standards of business regulation and corporate governance.
Our response to these challenges and opportunities will be reflected in the delivery across all goals in
our Strategy.
Programme for Partnership Government 2016 and Other Key Strategies
The Programme for a Partnership Government (PfPG), (May 2016) re-affirms Ireland’s strong
commitment and ambition for enterprise and jobs. It acknowledges the significant progress made in
the last five years and the importance of maintaining this progress and creating or rebuilding
sustainable sectors which can support continuing strong growth. It commits to an ambition of full
employment and implementing plans to deliver new sectoral and regional opportunities to underpin
that ambition and which can create the room in our public finances to meet urgent ambitions in other
areas.
Specifically, the PfPG targets
▪ 200,000 extra jobs by 2020, including 135,000 outside of Dublin
▪ a reduction in the national unemployment rate to 6%
▪ facilitating the return of at least 70,000 emigrants
▪ prioritising balanced regional development, and aims for an unemployment rate in each county
that is within one percent of the State average by 2020
The PfPG also highlights the importance of quality employment, collective bargaining, well-functioning
dispute resolution mechanisms and a safe working environment. These areas will feature strongly on
the Department’s agenda over the period covered by this Strategy Statement.
A list of the PfPG actions for delivery by DBEI can be found at Appendix 1.
Enterprise 2025, which was adopted by Government in November 2015, set out a long-term strategy
for the development of enterprise and job creation. A review of the strategy was completed in
February 2018 in the context of significant global changes that are likely to have implications for
Ireland’s enterprise prospects. Enterprise 2025 Renewed – building resilience in the face of global
challenges was adopted by Government in February 2018. Although the fundamentals of our
enterprise strategy remain sound – based on export led growth, underpinned by innovation and talent,
the renewed policy provides important direction for our ambition over the period of the new
Departmental Strategy.
Innovation 2020 was adopted by Government in December 2015 and aims to build on the significant
successes of the Government’s Science strategy over the past 10 years which has seen Ireland
9|PageStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
dramatically improve its performance globally. DBEI has lead responsibility for overseeing the
delivery of Innovation 2020.
In addition to Enterprise 2025 and Innovation 2020, our Strategy is underpinned by a number of other
key Government frameworks such as the National Skills Strategy, Ireland Connected, Trading and
Investing in a Dynamic World (2017) and Foodwise 2025.
The strategies of our Offices and Agencies, which will be key in the delivery of our goals and
objectives, are aligned with this Strategy. A list of our Offices and Agencies is set out in Appendix 5
of this document.
Change in Functions Since 2016-2019 Strategy
Since our 2016-2019 Strategy was published:
▪ A number of functions have transferred from the Department to the Department of Employment
Affairs and Social Protection, with effect from 1st September 2017, principally in the area of
employment rights policy and legislation, responsibility for the Low Pay Commission and for the
National Minimum Wage.
▪ Whilst individual elements of the Digital Single Market Strategy are led by various Departments,
leadership responsibility for coordinating the Strategy has transferred from the Department of
the Taoiseach to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, with effect from 1
September 2017.
Whole of Government Focus
Delivering a supportive environment for enterprise and jobs requires a sustained cross Government
focus on addressing challenges over the coming years. Through a partnership approach with
Government Departments, enterprise, representative bodies, the enterprise development agencies
(Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland), Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and
others, we can deliver a step change in the performance and international competitiveness of our
manufacturing and services sectors. The PfPG strongly endorses this cross-Government approach.
Examples of cross cutting areas of interest and collaborative effort with other Government
departments across a wide range of aspects of our work are set out in Appendix 2.
Internal Change
In recent years, the Department and its Offices have undergone significant internal changes, both
structurally and technologically, to better align our service delivery within the resources available. We
will continue to invest in and support our staff and keep reform central to our service delivery and
quality customer service. We are fully committed to the ongoing programme of change in the Civil
Service which seeks to build capacity to respond to existing and future challenges, and to improve the
performance of the Civil Service and its staff. In this regard the Department will commence an
Organisational Capability Review in Q1 2018.
10 | P a g eStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
Measuring Success
The overarching goals in this Strategy are set out in the following pages. Our Strategy sets out a
number of key outcomes for each overarching goal. Measurement of economic, enterprise and
innovation performance is complex and no one measure shows the complete picture. It is also
important that we focus on a number of overarching metrics complemented by firm level performance
metrics to assess overall performance. Relevant metrics from Enterprise 2025 and Innovation 2020
are set out in Appendix 4.
Consultation
As part of the development of the Statement of Strategy 2016 -2019, we carried out an extensive
consultation process with a wide range of targeted stakeholders including employer, employee and
consumer representative bodies, state agencies, research funders and professional bodies. We also
received input from other Government Departments and consulted with the Joint Oireachtas
Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The Department also has a number of important
ongoing engagement forums in place for consultation with stakeholders on a wide range of issues, in
particular with business at this challenging time. A list of the stakeholder forums that the Department
has an involvement with is in Appendix 3.
11 | P a g eStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
Goal One
Lead on creating and sustaining high quality enterprise and employment across all
regions of the country by supporting a strong indigenous enterprise base, the continued
attraction of foreign direct investment and a strong entrepreneurial culture.
We will, with our enterprise agencies, Enterprise Ireland (EI), IDA Ireland (IDA) and the Local Enterprise
Offices (LEOs), and with other stakeholders, lead on the delivery of the Programme for Partnership
Government target of 200,000 extra jobs by 2020, including 135,000 outside of Dublin.
We will support indigenous companies of all sizes to start, to grow, and to maintain viability through the
use of best in class support systems. We will continue to focus on supporting early stage
entrepreneurship and start-ups and ensure that policies across Government are aligned to support the
scaling and internationalisation of all companies with the potential to develop and sell high value added
products and services into overseas markets.
We will raise awareness of new enterprise opportunities arising from the EU's international trade and
investment agreements, including improved market access, broader supply channels, greater
predictability in the trading environment and less red tape. We will ensure that Ireland achieves the
greatest possible benefit from trade agreements in new sectors such as environmental goods, services
and investment. We will ensure that Ireland's FDI policy, and our value proposition in relevant sectors,
remains competitive so that it delivers an appropriate mix of sustainable and regionally dispersed inward
investment projects. A key objective is to deepen the engagement of FDI companies with the Irish
economy, for example, through direct expenditure on goods and services. We will continue to promote
strong collaboration and links between the indigenous and multinational sectors.
We will respond to the significant challenges, uncertainty and opportunities presented for business by
the UK decision to leave the EU and other global developments. We are particularly aware that the
evidence shows that the regions (particularly the Border region) are exposed to Brexit as a result of the
impact on certain employment sectors. In pursuit of this Goal we will maintain and adapt the annual
Action Plan for Jobs, which has been endorsed by the OECD. We will consult widely to ensure that the
Plan contains the best ideas for job creation within available resources. We will also work closely with
regional leaders on the Regional Action Plans for Jobs. Ambitious Agency targets have been set and
we will measure our progress on this Goal annually over the period of this strategy against specific
metrics, such as increased investment levels, growth in employment, sales and exports, increased
levels of entrepreneurship, increased innovation activity in enterprise, and a regionally dispersed spread
of employment.
Outcomes
200,000 new jobs created by 2020, 135,000 outside of Dublin.
Increased capacity and performance of our enterprise sector in terms of job creation, investment,
research and productivity and a wider base for exports.
A strong and growing indigenous cohort of companies driving export growth, economic growth and
jobs, supporting balanced regional development and performing to the best international standards.
Ensure adequate and appropriate supports are in place to help firms adapt to the challenges and
opportunities of Brexit
A world class global FDI ranking, increase in number of investments from overseas companies in
Ireland and attraction of new types of FDI to the country, with increased investment in each region.
Increased collaboration and linkages between the indigenous SME base and multinational
companies.
12 | P a g eStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
Goal Two
Lead a whole of government approach to developing the most competitive
environment for investment, productivity and sustainable jobs growth.
We are the lead government Department championing the development of a competitive and
conducive environment to promote enterprise and employment growth, to attract investment and to
drive productivity growth. We provide a medium-to-longer term policy perspective on enterprise
development and sustainable employment opportunities as well as progressing specific policy
proposals based on strong, evidence based policy research.
We will work with other government departments and agencies that play a crucial role in delivering on
a pro-business and supportive policy environment to ensure that Ireland is among the most
competitive economies in the world, is responsive and agile in addressing the changing needs of
enterprises and workers and that has a resilient and sustainable enterprise mix.
Particular areas of focus will be tax, finance, infrastructure, trade, energy and climate change. Our
enterprise policy ambition has informed Ireland’s National Planning Framework that was launched in
February 2018. This framework, together with the aligned National Development Plan 2018-2027, are
key instruments in creating quality places throughout Ireland that are attractive for business
investment (both Irish and foreign owned) and entrepreneurship, and for people to live and work in.
DBEI will play a key role in the development of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies,
including through the refreshed Regional Action Plans for Jobs, working with stakeholders to ensure
the key requirements are in place to realise the potential of our regions.
Working collaboratively across government to support enterprise and jobs is particularly crucial in the
context of Brexit, policy approaches under the current US administration, developments in
international taxation, the uncertain trajectory of global growth, the pace of technological change and
other challenges set out earlier.
We will continue to monitor and advise on the changing skills needs of the enterprise economy, in
conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills and other providers. We will lead on ensuring
Ireland responds to new business models, and market and technological developments to ensure we
have the best environment for attracting the next wave of investment and growing foreign earnings as
set out in Enterprise 2025 Renewed. We will continue to implement Ireland’s second National Plan on
Corporate Social Responsibility 2017-2020 ‘Towards Responsible Business’ in partnership with the
business community and the broader public sector.
We will progress policy proposals and advocate the enterprise perspective across Government
through active engagement in Senior Officials Groups and support for Cabinet Committees and
through our analysis and research support for groups such as the Expert Group on Future Skills
Needs and the National Competitiveness Council.
Outcomes
Strong alignment between public policy and the requirements of a competitive, export-oriented and
productive enterprise base that maximises the potential for jobs, investment and foreign earnings
growth.
Alignment between investment in infrastructure and enterprise needs that enhances the
competitiveness and productivity of regions.
Alignment between talent and skills supply and demand, including in company upskilling.
A top five small countries in the world competitiveness ranking.
Greater access to required finance for growth at competitive cost.
Achieving a fair and balanced approach to addressing our 2030 climate change targets, whilst
minimising the competitiveness impact and fostering opportunities for growth in the green economy.
Maximising the growth potential of the Digital Economy and EU Digital Single Market, achieving
better access for consumers and businesses to digital goods and services across Europe.
13 | P a g eStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
Goal Three
Lead a whole-of-Government ambition to position Ireland as a Global Innovation
Leader, driving an internationally competitive research and development system,
creating an innovative enterprise base and building a better society
Innovation 2020, our national strategy for research and development, science and technology, sets a
vision for Ireland to become a Global Innovation Leader. It aims to create an internationally
competitive research and innovation system, driving a sustainable economy and ultimately, to create
a better society. We will continue to drive the implementation of Innovation 2020 across Government
to deliver key targets including the headline target of investing 2.5% of GNP in R&D by 2020.
Innovation is central to a resilient and internationally competitive enterprise base particularly in the
context of Brexit and other global developments. Together with Science Foundation Ireland,
Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, we will drive and support greater engagement in RD&I by both
Irish and foreign owned enterprises and by both SMEs and large scale enterprises. We will tailor our
supports and target our investment at strategically important areas of commercial opportunity where
we can achieve innovation leadership and sustain a competitive edge. We will enhance supports for
the transfer of knowledge from our public research system to enterprise to deliver research outputs
with greater commercial potential.
As the European country with the highest proportion of young people, we have an opportunity to
nurture talent to best serve the needs of the research community, our society and economy. Through
Science Foundation Ireland we will develop this talent and show young people the opportunities in the
new knowledge-based sectors of our economy. We will support researchers at all stages of their
career development and provide practical means to facilitate mobility between academia and
enterprise. Innovation 2020 aims to increase enrolment of PhD and Research Masters students in
disciplines aligned to enterprise and national needs. Budget 2018 made funding available for a new
postgraduate programme to be administered by Science Foundation Ireland and which will fund
postgraduate researcher enrolments in disciplines under its remit.
In the area of intellectual property, we will actively engage with, and respond to, new challenges in the
digital market context, support the deepening of innovation, including at enterprise level. We will
strengthen our comprehensive legislative framework for intellectual property rights at domestic, EU
and international level.
We will continue to promote participation in Horizon 2020 to increase the level of research and
innovation in Ireland, including the competitiveness of companies operating in Ireland; to enhance
the excellence of Ireland’s research system; and to create develop world-class skills. We will
coordinate the national position on Framework Programme 9, the successor programme to Horizon
2020, and will lead in the negotiations with the EU on this. We will explore new opportunities to
enrich the national research and innovation environment through membership of International
Research Organisations, including membership of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) which
Ireland will join in 2018.
Outcomes
Progress towards Ireland becoming a Global Innovation Leader.
Excellent and impactful research in areas aligned to Ireland’s enterprise needs.
Accessible research and innovation supports targeting the needs of enterprise.
A progressive Intellectual Property regime that rewards creators, meets wider societal needs and
encourages greater levels of innovation by businesses.
Enhanced research and innovation collaboration with EU and international partners.
14 | P a g eStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
Goal Four
Deliver positive workplace relations, well-functioning dispute resolution
mechanisms, robust enforcement of employment rights and a safe working
environment.
Quality employment rights enforcement together with well-functioning workplace relations and dispute
resolution mechanisms and a safe working environment are features of a highly competitive social
market economy that supports fairness, reduces inequality and maximises job creation. We will
ensure that the workplace relations structures support a strong economy and a fair society by
balancing flexibility and security and providing protection for all those in employment
The Workplace Relations Commission established in 2015 and the expanded Labour Court are
operating at a challenging time for the economy, which although growing strongly, is still vulnerable to
economic shocks. We will ensure that the machinery for the resolution of workplace disputes is
supported to deliver a fast and efficient service.
Our Employment Permits system supports Ireland as an investment location by enabling enterprises
to access required talent from overseas. It maximises the benefits of economic migration while
minimising the risks of disrupting the labour market. We will deliver an efficient employment permits
process to regulate the entry of individuals from non-EEA countries which are sufficiently flexible to
react to changes in the labour market.
As we approach full employment, labour as well as skills shortages are beginning to manifest. It is
timely to undertake a fundamental review of the economic migration policies underpinning our
employment permits system to ensure that it is fully supportive of Ireland’s emerging labour market
needs
The safety and health of all workers is critical. We will support work-related safety and health and the
safe use of chemicals with a balanced and proportionate range of instruments ranging from
information, targeted publicity campaigns and guidance, through to warnings and enforcement, where
necessary.
Outcomes
Enforcement of employment rights that supports a strong economy and a fair society by balancing
flexibility and security and provides protection for all those in employment.
The timely and effective resolution of individual employment grievances and collective disputes to
complement support for orderly collective bargaining across the economy.
Supporting industry and job retention by ensuring a safer working environment that protects workers’
health and safety and maintains the highest standards of occupational health and safety through
enhanced enforcement, risk-based workplace inspections and effective sanctions for non-
compliance as well as enforcement of regulations to reduce the risk to human health and safety
arising from chemicals used at work and by the general public.
A demand driven skill-based and flexible employment permit system that supports Ireland as an
investment location by enabling enterprises to access required talent from overseas which avoids
disrupting the domestic labour market.
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Goal Five
Ensure that our business regulation facilitates business investment and development,
competition in the market place, high standards of consumer protection and corporate
governance and provides Ireland with a competitive advantage in the global market.
Working closely with stakeholders and other Government Departments, we have led the successful
development of a stable, transparent and modernised company law framework in Ireland. This is an
essential requirement to foster indigenous enterprise, attract FDI and drive sustainable growth and job
creation. Ireland has considerably strengthened its legislative framework in relation to criminal
procedure in recent years, introducing more targeted measures to strengthen the investigation and
prosecution of corporate and regulatory crime. In order to further enhance the existing framework, a
suite of measures is proposed which will serve to review and enhance Ireland’s regulation and
enforcement regime to ensure that we maintain our world class business environment underpinned by
appropriate regulation and legislation.
We will monitor the implementation of the Companies Act 2014 to ensure it delivers on these high-
level objectives and respond to issues emerging. We will finalise enhanced regulation to improve
audit quality and oversight. We will focus on implementing the new financial reporting framework
which will deliver significant benefits, particularly for SMEs. The Companies Registration Office (CRO)
will establish and maintain a Register of Beneficial Ownership for Companies and Industrial and
Provident Societies to strengthen transparency around company ownership in the context of anti-
money laundering and counter terrorist financing.
We will continue with the modernisation of corporate legislation with the review, modernisation and
consolidation of the legislation governing the co-operative sector. Through the Personal Injuries
Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2018 we will strengthen the powers of the Personal Injuries
Assessment Board (PIAB) to maximise the use of this low-cost settlement model. This in turn should
help reduce the costs associated with personal injury claims.
We will continue to implement the recommendations of the Cost of Insurance Working Group that are
the responsibility of DBEI/PIAB including supporting the Personal Injuries Commission to improve the
personal injuries environment in Ireland.
We will continue to respond to new and emerging challenges in the area of competition and consumer
policy to ensure that our policies provide an appropriate balance between the expected high
standards of consumer protection and facilitating a level playing field in markets so that businesses
can compete, learn and grow internationally. We will consolidate and modernise the legislation
governing the supply of goods, services and digital content to create a clear and balanced framework
of consumer rights.
We will use our regulation of chemicals and products to drive competitiveness and innovation by
ensuring that products being made available on the Irish market or introduced for the first time are
manufactured to the highest quality requirements and meet the requirements of the relevant
Directives/Regulations and do not endanger health, safety or any other public interest. We will provide
an effective and efficient Construction Contracts Adjudication Service.
Outcomes
Legislative framework in the Companies Act 2014 is delivering as envisaged.
Suite of measures delivered to enhance corporate governance and strengthen Ireland’s
corporate, economic and regulatory environment.
Financial reporting and audit legislative framework in place which reduces administrative and cost
burdens on small and micro enterprises and enhances regulation and oversight of statutory audit.
Enactment of a comprehensive modern legislative framework of consumer contract law.
The potential of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board model maximised.
Consolidated and modernised co-operative sector legislation, including in relation to corporate
governance and transparency, which facilitates the development of the sector.
16 | P a g eStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
Goal Six
Work ambitiously across Government with our EU and international partners to achieve
progress in EU and International fora, across a wide range of interests, including Brexit.
The Department has a strong engagement in a wide range of EU policy fields and takes the lead on
Ireland’s trade and competitiveness policy, including at EU and WTO level. We have overall
responsibility for national trade policy and lead on EU and WTO trade matters. Working across
Government and with our EU and international partners, we will continue to represent Ireland at EU
level, engaging with EU institutions including at Competitiveness and Trade Councils, to influence
emerging policies that will support the delivery of our jobs, competitiveness and growth agendas. The
Department will continue to advocate ambitious initiatives to deepen the Single Market, especially in
services, and the Digital Single Market, in policy areas within our responsibility, and to support the
continued mainstreaming of competitiveness across other policy fields. DBEI also has responsibility for
export licences and dual use and military goods, under EU and other International agreements. Ongoing
research and stakeholder engagement is being undertaken to develop evidence based policy to support
these aims. We will continue our active engagement, including through the Council’s preparatory
bodies, with the European Semester in respect of the jobs and growth agenda, guidelines and country
specific recommendations.
One of the most significant challenges that we face is the UK exit from the EU. We will work in
collaboration with colleagues across Government to ensure the most advantageous outcome, for
Ireland and for the EU, to minimise the impact on Irish enterprises, employees and consumers. We will
seek to grow and deepen trading partnerships and enhance our networking with other Member States
and with EU institutions, to mitigate for the loss of the UK as a like-minded ally within EU negotiations.
We will also continue to maintain and strengthen a strong bilateral relationship with the UK.
We will work to promote and safeguard Ireland’s interests across the range of important WTO
developments that are expected to arise over the course of this strategy, (including the finalisation of
an Environmental Goods Agreement, the implementation of a revised Information Technology
Agreement, the expansion in coverage of the Government Procurement Agreement, the finalisation of
a Trade in Services Agreement (in parallel to the WTO), and expected important developments in
respect of Agriculture and Digital Trade). Ireland’s first full membership of the Governing Body of the
International Labour Organisation from 2017-2020 represents an opportunity for the Department to
influence the development of the international agenda in respect of the Future of Work. We will
contribute to Ireland’s implementation plan progressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs). We will take lead responsibility for six SDG targets and share responsibility for another two
targets in areas such as employment, safe and secure working environments, fostering innovation and
encouraging companies to adopt and report on sustainable practices.
Outcomes
Achievement of the EU’s strategic agenda, and Ireland’s interests strongly represented, in the areas
of competitiveness, trade, company law, insolvency and consumer affairs.
Achievement of the EU’s and Ireland’s goals, including for business, consumers and employees, in
the negotiations on the UK’s departure from the EU.
Minimised trade disruption and maximised opportunities arising from the UK’s exit from the EU.
Trade agreements negotiated, concluded and implemented, reflecting Ireland’s strategic objectives
and facilitating greater trading opportunities for Irish businesses.
Successful results on the range of important WTO developments that are expected to arise over the
period covered by this Strategy that facilitate export growth and better access to global goods and
services inputs.
17 | P a g eStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
Goal Seven
Invest in and support our staff to further enhance individual and collective capacity,
ensure high standards of corporate governance and optimise all our resources to deliver
our Strategy, Mission and Goals.
The pursuit and achievement of the Goals set out in this Strategy are dependent on the excellence
and efforts of all of our staff, supported by the Corporate Services business units. Our key asset is
our staff. We will ensure a supportive HR strategy and practices and invest in shared learning and
career development to enable each staff member to grow his/her capacity to make a valued
contribution and with the flexibility to respond to key issues as they arise. We will also ensure that our
culture and values demonstrate dignity and respect.
We will optimise our financial, technological and other resources to support us in achieving our
objectives and in implementing a programme of continuous improvement.
▪ We will fully participate in the ongoing public service reform agenda and the Civil Service Renewal
Plan, and pursue a number of in-house initiatives under the umbrella of our New Ways of Working
initiative. This will include a significant investment in staff development to increase expertise and
capability and enable our staff to perform at the highest levels across our diverse business areas.
▪ We will also recruit staff with specific skills to strengthen our expertise in particular areas. In
addition, the Department has a number of staff seconded overseas with the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade.
▪ We will maintain optimum service whilst relocating a significant proportion of staff in key business
areas (including supporting ICT and other systems).
▪ We will continue to seek efficiencies and improved customer service through continuous focus on
digital opportunities.
▪ We will take action based on feedback from customer and staff engagement surveys to help
improve our service delivery.
▪ We will demonstrate excellence in corporate governance which will provide openness and
transparency and ensure value for money.
▪ We will support our staff through wellbeing initiatives and flexible working options, to ensure a
healthy work life balance for all.
We will work with the Civil Service Management Board in implementing the Gender Balance Action
Plan, and work to remove any barriers that may exist which may stop people from competing for and
participating in senior management and leadership positions both within the Department and across
our Agencies.
In line with our obligations under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act, 2014, the
Department is committed to proofing its policies, procedures and services across its business areas to
ensure we comply with our requirements in the area of human rights and equality.
Outcomes
A responsive, professional and flexible team
Effective systems that strategically support our business.
Sound corporate governance culture and framework and value for money achieved in the
management of the Department’s funding,
18 | P a g eStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
Appendix 1
List of Programme for Partnership Government Actions for delivery by
DBEI
▪ The ultimate goal of the new Government will be to deliver sustainable full employment. This will
mean an extra 200,000 jobs by 2020, of which 135,000 will be outside of Dublin, leading to more
people at work than ever before.
▪ Specifically, the new Government will:
• Target 200,000 extra jobs by 2020, including 135,000 outside of Dublin
• Reduce the unemployment rate to 6%
• Facilitate the return of at least 70,000 emigrants
• Prioritise balanced regional development, which will allow us to aim for an unemployment
rate in each county that is within one percent of the State average by 2020
▪ We will maintain the OECD endorsed Action Plan for Jobs process that will, on an annual basis,
consult with all relevant stakeholders to draft an Action Plan that contains the best ideas for job
creation within available resources.
▪ We will implement regional jobs plans, with local input, to help spread growth to all areas. The aim
of these strategies will be to encourage agencies and companies to work together and build on
the competitive strengths of each region. We will mandate Local Enterprise Offices to set county-
specific targets on job creation.
▪ We will also encourage county councils to play a significant role in the Regional Action Plan for
Jobs and ensure that economic recovery is felt inside every door of their county.
▪ An extra €300million in capital funding between Enterprise Ireland and Udarás na Gaeltachta to
allow them to provide additional support to Irish owned enterprises. This extra funding will give
Local Enterprise Offices and incubation centres additional resources to help support start-ups and
small businesses across the country.
▪ An extra €200million to the IDA which will allow it, among other things, to attract more
multinational jobs by building additional advanced facilities in regional towns. This will follow on
from the 11 advanced facilities which are currently being rolled out.
▪ Support a leap forward in the capacity and performance of our enterprise sector. Protect our
national competitiveness from unsustainable cost growth (this involves active innovation and
investment as well as containing income demands to the genuine delivery of productivity
improvements).
▪ Excel in getting the basics right, and deliver a job-fit business environment which ranks in the top
tier globally.
▪ We will respect the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court as the proper forum
for state intervention in industrial relation disputes and ensure that both bodies are supported and
adequately resourced to fulfil their roles.
▪ We will ensure that our national interests are protected in any future trade discussions, with a
particular focus on beef and food safety standards.
▪ We will work with the European Commission and colleagues across the EU to ensure the best
possible outcome for Ireland in any future negotiations. In particular, we will work to ensure the
principle of equivalence is maintained in negotiations in terms of food safety, traceability and
production standards to ensure that producers are operating on a level playing field.
▪ Ireland’s participation in the Unified Patent Court.
19 | P a g eStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
Appendix 2
Examples of areas of cross-cutting interest and collaborative effort with
other Government Departments and their Agencies
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Exports and trade, Foodwise 2025, Innovation 2020, H&S in the Farming and Fisheries sectors,
Chemicals Acts – (REACH, CLP, Rotterdam Regulations).
Department of An Taoiseach
Development of annual Action Plans for Jobs, Digital Single Market Strategy, National Risk
Assessment. Engagement through a range of Cabinet Committees, Senior Officials Groups, etc.
Department of Rural and Community Development
Regional Action Plans for Jobs, roll-out of Broadband, Action Plan for Rural Ireland.
Central Statistics Office
A range of surveys on enterprise and innovation performance, QNHS module on work-related
accidents and illness, inputs to the development of the National Data Infrastructure and the Unique
Business Identifier and productivity statistics.
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Innovation 2020, roll-out of high speed broadband, energy security and supply, Chemicals Acts,
collaborative work on the Emission Trading Scheme, UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Department of Defence
Defence Organisation’s collaboration with industry and research organisations on product
development and evaluation, Security and Defence Enterprise Group, Progression of EU proposal to
establish European Defence and Industrial Development Programme.
Department of Health
Innovation 2020, Establishment of Health Innovation Hub Ireland, healthy workplace dimension of the
Healthy Ireland Initiative, Chemicals Acts.
Department of Education and Skills
National Skills Policy, Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, areas of key skills shortages, Excellence
and basic research, Research prioritisation, Investment in PRTLI, Entrepreneurship in Education,
Construction Skills Certification Scheme, Social Policy under the EPSCO Council.
Department of Finance
Finance for Business, taxation, funds and markets, insolvency, anti-money laundering, Cost of
Insurance Working Group.
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Capital expenditure priorities to support enterprise development, capital and current funding of
Agencies, Labour-Employer Economic Forum (LEEF), Public Sector and Civil Service Reform.
20 | P a g eStatement of Strategy 2018-2021
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
EU Permanent Representation, Trade policy, Trade Strategy, Trade missions, Support for Irish
business in existing/new markets, Economic diplomacy strategy, The Joint Economic Commissions
(JECs) process with China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Korea, Export Trade Council (ETC)/ Trade
Coordination Group, DFAT’s ongoing work on Least Developed Countries, Sustainable Development
Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, Whole-of-Government approach to foreign policy, Human
Rights, International Labour Organisation, Reporting for the Council of Europe's European Social
Charter, licensing and enforcement system for export controls, North South cooperation –
InterTradeIreland.
Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
Project Ireland 2040, Ireland’s national planning framework (February 2018). Affordable housing,
planning process, water, waste management, Local Authorities key role in delivering the goals of the
Regional Action Plans for Jobs, DHPCLG’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme
(SICAP), Dangerous Substances Act -Licencing role of Local Authorities, Chemicals Acts –Control of
Major Accident Hazards, Receivership Working Group – exploring ways to protect legal tenancies.
Department of Justice/Garda Síochana
Employment permits, employment rights inspections, carriage of dangerous goods by road (ADR),
Driving for Work programme, employment equality as part of employment and social policy
coordination of the EU EPSCO Council, EU insolvency issues.
Revenue Commissioners
Employment rights - Joint investigations (WRC, DSP and Revenue Commissioners), Employment
Permits, Chemicals Acts, Company Law.
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Protocol between DBEI, DSP and the Enterprise Agencies aimed at maximising recruitment by the
Enterprise Agencies from the Live Register, low pay, employment and social policy EU under the
EPSCO Council, Employment rights - Joint investigations (WRC, DSP and Revenue Commissioners).
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Transport infrastructure.
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